1. What makes a criminal

Question 1

As you are learning the background research have this in mind

The Crib Sheet

Answer 1

Question 2

Physiological explanations of criminal behaviour: Hormones

Answer 2

The link between testosterone and aggressive, violent behavior has long been investigated. Official statistics show that there is a gender difference in criminality.
There are 82,176 people in prison in Britain. Women only account for 3.8% of this total.
Far more men than women are convicted of crimes, especially violent crimes.
Females have on average 1/10th of the testosterone of males, the amount of testosterone we have may offer a biological explanation for criminal behaviour.

Question 3

Dabbs et al (1995) - evidence for Hormone explanation

Answer 3

Found that inmates who had committed personal crimes of sex and violence had higher testosterone levels than inmates who had committed property crimes of burglary, theft, and drugs.
P’s were split into 2 groups – high violence and low violence
Testosterone was measured from saliva samples and behaviour was coded from prison system records.
Inmates with higher testosterone levels also violated more rules in prison, especially rules involving overt confrontation.
The findings indicate differences between low and high testosterone individuals in the amount and type of criminal behaviour.

Question 4

Physiological explanations of criminal behaviour: Omega 3’s and nutrition

Answer 4

There is evidence that offenders consume diets lacking in essential nutrients and this could adversely affect their behaviour. Omega 3’s are long chain fatty acids essential for synapse development.
Researchers have suggested low levels of Omega 3 lead to reduced cognitive function which could lead to aggression and failure to consider consequences of behaviour.

Question 5

Gesch et al (2002) - evidence for nutrition explanation

Answer 5

Used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial of nutritional supplements on 231 young adult prisoners, comparing disciplinary offences before and during supplementation.
Compared with placebos, those receiving the active capsules committed fewer offences. Compared to baseline, the effect on those taking active supplements for a minimum of 2 weeks was an large reduction of offences.
Conclusions: Antisocial behaviour in prisons, including violence, are reduced by vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids with similar implications for those eating poor diets in the community.

Question 6

Non-physiological explanations of criminal behaviour

Answer 6

life experiences can mould behaviour

Question 7

Non-physiological explanations of criminal behaviour - evidence - Farrington and West 2006

Answer 7

Social explanations of criminal behaviour include research into upbringing and the risk factors for crime that children are exposed to in the environment.
In the 1960s Farrington and West began the Cambridge study into delinquent development.
This was a longitudinal study of 411 boys who were aged eight when the study began. The study interviewed them as boys, adolescents and again as adults.
In addition, their juvenile and adult criminal records were reported. The study was comprehensive and identified a range of risk factors for offending in boys aged eight to ten.

Question 8

Social explanation - Risk factors (5)

Answer 8

The most important childhood risk factors were:
Poor school performance
Poorer and larger families
Disrupted families
Poor parental supervision and child rearing techniques
Family criminality

Question 9

Question structure

Answer 9

Discuss methodological issues involved when researching what makes a criminal (15 marks)
We need to know the key research (Raine) to answer this fully but you can and SHOULD use the background research as well to help you answer this question
2/3 xPEEC’s – what methodological issues are there with these studies?